why the hell are Ferrari still having windtunnel trouble again ugh , Please Ferrari don't let down fernando again especially this year . Still good luck Alonso gosh the guy will be fighting everyone (lotus,sauber,mclaren)

why the hell are Ferrari still having windtunnel trouble again ugh , Please Ferrari don't let down fernando again especially this year . Still good luck Alonso gosh the guy will be fighting everyone (lotus,sauber,mclaren)

And this is the fourth year in a row that they notice something is amiss with the damn wind tunnel.

No matter what happens at least we can all hold our heads high as Alonso fans, he has done us very very proud this year and really cemented his reputation as an all time great with his performances. We've been through rougher times than this with Fernando!

We never know what can happen on a race day. Every fan of Alonso certainly remebers how desperate everything looked for him after Q in Suzuka in 2006. It was a much worse situation than today, that was penultimate race of the season and everything looked bright for Schumacher. So, if we get a first corner without incidents, podium is possible, maybe even more.

I was thinking exactly this at the end of qualifying.

I'm not an Alonso fan, but he's clearly the most deserving driver this year IMVHO.

Fernando needs to work hard clearing Grosjean and Kobayashi and Perez tomorrow - let's hope for one of his lightening starts. If he can clear these guys by the first pit stop (I know it's a big ask) then he'son the podium and can think about trying to destabilize Webber. Damage limitation. The real challenge will be the start though - he needs a great one. If he falls back even one place it's going to compromise his result.

I'm not normally one to rant, but this championship is over. I am so sick of the usual "we need to analyze the performance" and "we need to understand the situation" bullshit from PF & SD. Ferrari had a 5-race window where they were competitive and made sort of the most of it (Monza was a fault, Spa no fault of anyone), and now it looks like there is a solid 0.5s between the F2012 and the RB, and frankly I'd even go so far as to say as there is an additional 0.2s on top of that that is the difference between Vettel and Alonso in quali.

Tomorrow afternoon the gap will be down to 14 points. Alonso P5, Vettel P1. After Kora it will be less than 5 points.

I'm not normally one to rant, but this championship is over. I am so sick of the usual "we need to analyze the performance" and "we need to understand the situation" bullshit from PF & SD. Ferrari had a 5-race window where they were competitive and made sort of the most of it (Monza was a fault, Spa no fault of anyone), and now it looks like there is a solid 0.5s between the F2012 and the RB, and frankly I'd even go so far as to say as there is an additional 0.2s on top of that that is the difference between Vettel and Alonso in quali.

Tomorrow afternoon the gap will be down to 14 points. Alonso P5, Vettel P1. After Kora it will be less than 5 points.

If Alonso can't take it I'd rather see Hamilton win it than anything cocky Red Bull. The F2012 is slipping back and it seems like a slow torture before every race, I hope the Cologne wind tunnel coughs up some good wings giving us a few good tenths.

I miss 2004.

But as Alonso says, points are awarded on Sunday and anything can happen.

I'm not normally one to rant, but this championship is over. I am so sick of the usual "we need to analyze the performance" and "we need to understand the situation" bullshit from PF & SD. Ferrari had a 5-race window where they were competitive and made sort of the most of it (Monza was a fault, Spa no fault of anyone), and now it looks like there is a solid 0.5s between the F2012 and the RB, and frankly I'd even go so far as to say as there is an additional 0.2s on top of that that is the difference between Vettel and Alonso in quali.

Tomorrow afternoon the gap will be down to 14 points. Alonso P5, Vettel P1. After Kora it will be less than 5 points.

To be somewhat rather blunt, I think the fact that we are in this position at all at this stage of the season is quite an achievement and due in no small part to the efforts of both PF and SD. Like it or lump it they have both done a great job IMO. SD in particular has had an absolute mountain to climb. Firstly considering how high Jean Todt set the bar and secondly given how Todt had allowed all of Ferrari's advantages to be frittered away in the various rule changes IMO. Todt left SD with an totally inflexible team with little ability to "change it's spots" and adapt to the new F1 world.

That said I agree that it is totally frustrating that, yet again, we seem to be totally unable to fight for the title come the business end of the season. Yes there have been missed opportunities, yes there have been mistakes, but hey we are still here and the title is not yet over, though granted it is looking all but "peachy" ATM.

Anyway moving to tomorrow, or today, if we leave with 14 points, then so be it. As an Alonso fan am I happy about that? No. No I am not, but hey what can be done about that our end? But don't forget there are still 5 races to go beyond Suzuka. Who knows, perhaps Alonso will pull something out of the hat a great result, or maybe he won't. Either way I think he has driven incredibly well this season and shown just how great a driver he truly is.

To be somewhat rather blunt, I think the fact that we are in this position at all at this stage of the season is quite an achievement and due in no small part to the efforts of both PF and SD. Like it or lump it they have both done a great job IMO.

What efforts are you talking about exactly? Giving Alonso a donkey consistently 1 second behind pole position and fighting with midfield teams? The fact that Alonso has been leading the championship this year is DESPITE the efforts of Fry and SD. In fact they seem to be doing their best to lose the titles by consistently failing to improve the car, so I have no idea how you believe they deserve praise for their efforts. Without Alonso they both would have been sacked mid season. SD might have had a mountain to climb but he has not climbed it.

To be somewhat rather blunt, I think the fact that we are in this position at all at this stage of the season is quite an achievement and due in no small part to the efforts of both PF and SD. Like it or lump it they have both done a great job IMO. SD in particular has had an absolute mountain to climb. Firstly considering how high Jean Todt set the bar and secondly given how Todt had allowed all of Ferrari's advantages to be frittered away in the various rule changes IMO. Todt left SD with an totally inflexible team with little ability to "change it's spots" and adapt to the new F1 world.

That said I agree that it is totally frustrating that, yet again, we seem to be totally unable to fight for the title come the business end of the season. Yes there have been missed opportunities, yes there have been mistakes, but hey we are still here and the title is not yet over, though granted it is looking all but "peachy" ATM.

Anyway moving to tomorrow, or today, if we leave with 14 points, then so be it. As an Alonso fan am I happy about that? No. No I am not, but hey what can be done about that our end? But don't forget there are still 5 races to go beyond Suzuka. Who knows, perhaps Alonso will pull something out of the hat a great result, or maybe he won't. Either way I think he has driven incredibly well this season and shown just how great a driver he truly is.

Excellent post. And - knowing Alonso, He'll find some way on to the podium - so even if Seb wins that's a net loss of 10 points. Every little bit counts.

I had hoped Hamilton would win the title if not Alonso because if Vettel wins 3 in a row, the press and pundits will go crazy calling him one of the best drivers of all time, and a legend blah blah, when in reality he is just a good driver cleaning up in dominant cars, but looks like Hamilton is out of it now after his setup screw up.

As the most painful part of the season is probably about to start tomorrow, I want to say how proud I am of Fernando. Even with the frustration of not having a faster car I can not help to feel proud reading so many people begging to the most important team in F1 history things like: "just give the man a fast car"I know, that one is a very silly and romantic view, but for some of his fans, all this started when he was inside a Minardi and to watching him just being there in the F1 circus and finishing races was a great success here in his hometown. To see him so many years later still going and with Ferrari completly at his feet it is incredible.

When he retires he will probably have less wins, poles, and championships that his talent deserves, but for me it is all about the general opinion in the paddock right now. Other people saying he is lucky, rude, or satan himself, don't bother me too much, it is all part of the game and a normal thing when you are the best or you are one of the best.

I will probably write something similar to this when this season finishes, as I feel I am less optimistic about the WDC with every race, but all of the above will remain the same.Another thing that will remain it is the expectation. No matter if Alonso starts second row or seventh row, there is always a sense of expectation that he can do really great things, that you can not rule out anything when he is involved. And that is a great thing.

I am now prepared for the worst on this last races, but always with the expectation and with the feeling that he can do it.And once the season is over I will keep waiting for Ferrari to give him a fast car for once before he retires!

It was not a racing incident but a blatant fault on Kimi's side. He was behind.

I would call it a racing incident although Kimi should have backed off. Alonso's rear wheel clipped his front end plate, that means he stuck his nose in a space that wasnt even there in the first place. Alonso didn't need to give him room because he wasn't significantly alongside as the rule says.

Looking at the replay I would now blame Kimi for being so close to Alonso. It was too reckless, you can't keep your wing 1mm from the car infront then complain when he moves and you hit him because you have no time to react.

Alonso made mistake, now his championship lead will be cut very badly. 100% Alonsos mistake, Kimi didnt need to back off when he was next to Alonso, Alonso should have left the space. Racing accident, no penalties I would say.

Looking at the replay I would now blame Kimi for being so close to Alonso. It was too reckless, you can't keep your wing 1mm from the car infront then complain when he moves and you hit him because you have no time to react.

I agree... Kimi should have understood that once Alonso drove him off the road it was because he (Kimi) had to stay either off the road or behind Fernando. Kimi had no right fighting the Ferrari driver there and, as usual, Alonso did nothing wrong, yet he is paying by the mistakes of others

I would call it a racing incident although Kimi should have backed off. Alonso's rear wheel clipped his front end plate, that means he stuck his nose in a space that wasnt even there in the first place. Alonso didn't need to give him room because he wasn't significantly alongside as the rule says.

Kimi is 100% at fault because he was completely behind and should have taken care. Ferrari must act and demand investigation.

Alonso made mistake, now his championship lead will be cut very badly. 100% Alonsos mistake, Kimi didnt need to back off when he was next to Alonso, Alonso should have left the space. Racing accident, no penalties I would say.

Why didnt Kimi need to leave space and back off considering he was the car behind?? The car in front has the track.

Why didnt Kimi need to leave space and back off considering he was the car behind?? The car in front has the track.

Agree! The car in front has the track. This isn't like Alonso-Vettel at Monza where both cars were side-side; here Kimi was always behind, hence it was legal for Alonso to drive him off track, and irresponsible for Kimi to defend.

Agree! The car in front has the track. This isn't like Alonso-Vettel at Monza where both cars were side-side; here Kimi was always behind, hence it was legal for Alonso to drive him off track, and irresponsible for Kimi to defend.

How can one defend when completely behind? Kimi had only two options: slot behind Alonso or drive Alonso off the track. It had nothing to do with racing but with fairness. Kimi chose the unfair path.

Why didnt Kimi need to leave space and back off considering he was the car behind?? The car in front has the track.

The rule stipulates that you can't just step into the other car if there is any part of the other car there, the new rule that is, by rule, Alonso screwed himself. By logic, he also screwed himself, when you are nursing a championship lead u don't look for that type of situation where contact can happen, most of all against a guy who has ni chance at your championship. Could Kimi have backed of? Sure.... Why not also roll the red carpet for the prince of Spain while he's at it. Lol fact is, it was a dumb move by Alonso, which will go down as a racing incident, he could have avoided that, there was absolutely no need for what he was doing.

I was going to blame Alonso for going off on his own, but now it appears he had a punctured rear. Which is just one of those things, KR not to blame either, he just held his line and place.

He did not have a right to just hold his place, because he crowded the car in front too much, and took out his tyre. Like I said before, you cannot stay 1mm from the car infront, and then say you did not have time to react.

He did not have a right to just hold his place, because he crowded the car in front too much, and took out his tyre. Like I said before, you cannot stay 1mm from the car infront, and then say you did not have time to react.

It was a race start, they're close in those all the time. Sometimes it goes wrong, that's all.

He did not have a right to just hold his place, because he crowded the car in front too much, and took out his tyre. Like I said before, you cannot stay 1mm from the car infront, and then say you did not have time to react.

There is absolutely nothing in what you're saying that is correct. Do you race at all?

There is absolutely nothing in what you're saying that is correct. Do you race at all?

Yes I do, and its completely reckless to not leave space to the car in front, and have your wing right next to the rear tyre of the car in front because if he moves, you will have no time to react and hit him which is exactly what happened. Do you really think the car in front is not allowed to move at all??

Yes I do, and its completely reckless to not leave space to the car in front, and have your wing right next to the rear tyre of the car in front because if he moves, you will have no time to react and hit him which is exactly what happened. Do you really think the car in front is not allowed to move at all??